FARLEY, Iowa — The Western Dubuque Bobcats will become the first eastern Iowa area school to play on the renovated Field of Dreams Major League Baseball diamond Wednesday when they face Clinton as part of the “If You Build It” high school series.
“It is pretty cool to know that I can say that I’ve played on an MLB field, and considering we’re the first one to be on it after it’s been renovated and everything, that’s just really cool,” said a Western Dubuque senior Symon McDermott.
“It’s kind of jaw dropping a little bit. You’re like oh I’m playing on the same field as some of the best guys in the MLB like Aaron Judge a few years ago,” Western Dubuque senior Logan Plumley added.
Freshman Adler Gibbs attended the Yankees versus White Sox game at the Field of Dreams in 2021, scoring tickets through a family friend. He saw Aaron Judge play in person.
“When Tim Anderson hit the walk off that was the most electric — it was just crazy no matter, Yankees or White Sox fan everyone was just cheering,” Gibbs said.
Playing just 10 minutes from Dyersville, many of the Bobcats have visited the movie site.
“On the original field I have. Once when I was 9 years old I believe,” Western Dubuque senior Brett Harris said about playing on the move site field.
“I’ve never played on the field, but when I was younger our babysitter we always used to want to go to the field throw balls around and go in the cornfield,” Gibbs added.
Some players work part time at the field.
“I like prep baseball fields, so I like chalk them, drag them, smooth them out whatever before and after every tournament game we have out there,” McDermott said.
Ben Kluesner said he has worked at the field for two years.
“One of my friend’s parents is pretty involved in it and he asked me to do it,” he said. “It’s a fun time. I really enjoy it.”
The Bobcats have dealt with rain delays throughout the week.
“It’s terrible. I mean Friday we got rained out, Monday we got rained out, Tuesday we got rained out then yesterday we started our game,” Gibbs explained.
For baseball fans across the country, the Field of Dreams is a bucket-list destination. For the Bobcats, it is in their backyard.
“I think I take it for granted. A lot of people, that’s their dream destination, but since you live so close to it, it’s kind of once of those things that it’s there, but I think playing on it will do it some more justice,” Western Dubuque junior Sam McDermott said.
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